title: Factors associated with quality of life among rural women with HIV disease.
abstract: This cross-sectional study examined physical, psychological, and social factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among a sample of 399 rural women with HIV disease living in the Southeastern United States. Of the socio-demographic variables, age (p = .003), race (p < .0001), and time of HIV diagnosis (p = .03) were significantly associated with QOL. In bi-variate analysis, HIV symptoms (frequency and extent symptoms were bothersome), perceived stigma, internalized stigma, and depression were significantly and negatively associated with QOL whereas social support, problem-focused coping, perceived situational control, and healthy lifestyles were significantly and positively associated with QOL (all p < .0001). In adjusted analysis, HIV symptom frequency, depression, problem-focused coping, perceived situational control, perceived stigma, healthy lifestyles, and race remained significant predictors of QOL and explained 55% of the variance in QOL among the study participants (model F (7, 390) = 66.7; p < .0001). The study findings identify potential points of interventions to improve QOL among rural women with HIV disease.
authors.affiliation: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 29210, USA. medha2808@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Medha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyavaharkar
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moneyham
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murdaugh
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult